XLVI. They have not esteemed God with the estimation due unto Him, since the whole earth [shall be] His handful on the day of resurrection, and the heavens [shall be] folded together by His right hand. Extolled be His perfection and high be He exalted above the [things] they associate with Him! And the trumpet shall be blown, and they that are in the heavens and they that are in the earth shall die, except those whom God shall please. Then it shall be blown another time; and lo, they shall arise, waiting. And the earth shall shine with the light of its Lord. And the book shall be placed, and the prophets shall be brought and the witnesses, and judgment shall be given between them with truth, and they shall not be treated unjustly. And every soul shall be fully paid the reward of what it hath done, and He well knoweth what they do. And those who have disbelieved shall be driven in troops unto hell, until when they come to it, its gates shall be opened, and its guardians shall say unto them, 'Did not Messengers from among you come unto you rehearsing the signs of your Lord, and warning you of the meeting of this your day?' They shall answer, 'Yea:' (But the sentence of punishment1 hath been justly pronounced against the unbelievers :) It shall be said, 'Enter ye the gates of hell to remain therein for ever:' and evil shall be the abode of the proud. And those who have feared their Lord shall be urged on in troops unto paradise, until when they come unto it, its gates are already opened, and its guardians say unto them. 'Peace be on you! Ye have been good: therefore enter it to abide therein for ever.' And they shall say, 'Praise be to God, who hath performed unto us His promise, and hath made us to inherit 1 I will surely fill Hell, &c. [Ķur. vii. 17, given below, p. 51]. the land, that we may dwell in Paradise wheresoever we please; and how excellent is the reward of the workers!'1 And thou shalt see the angels encompassing the throne, extolling the perfection with the praise of their Lord. And judgment shall be given between them 2 with truth: and it shall be said, 'Praise be to God, the Lord of the Worlds!' (xxxix. 67-75.) XLVII. Paradise shall be brought near unto the pious, to a place not distant from them, so that they shall see it. And it shall be said unto them, 'This is what ye have been promised, unto every one who hath earnestly turned himself unto God and kept His laws, Who hath feared the Compassionate in secret, and come with a penitent heart: Enter it in peace: this is the Day of Eternity.' XLVIII. (1. 30-33.) †Fairseeming to men is the love of pleasures from women and children, and hoarded riches of gold and silver, and pastured horses, and flocks, and corn-fields. Such is the enjoyment of this world's life! But God, goodly is the home with Him! SAY, Shall I tell you of better things than these prepared in the presence of their Lord for those that fear [God]? Theirs shall be gardens beneath which rivers run, and in which they shall abide for ever, and stainless wives, and acceptance with God: for God regardeth His servants, -Who say, 'O our Lord, verily we have believed; forgive us then our sins, and keep us from the torment of the fire,' The patient, and the truthful, and the lowly, and the charitable, and they who seek pardon at each daybreak. (iii. 12-15.) 1 Of righteousness. 2 Between all creatures. 3 [Or 'marked' or 'goodly.'] XLIX. +And repute not those slain in God's cause1 to be dead: nay, alive with their Lord, they are provided for; Joyful in what God of His bounty hath vouchsafed them, and rejoicing for those that follow after them, but have not yet overtaken them, that on them no fear shall come, neither shall they grieve; Rejoicing at the favour of God and His bounty, and that God suffereth not the reward of the faithful to perish. (iii. 163–165.) L. Whosoever doeth the things that are right, whether male or female, being a believer, these shall enter paradise, and shall not be wronged in the least degree. LI. (iv. 123.) For those who have disbelieved in their Lord [is prepared] the punishment of hell; and evil [shall be] the journey.2 When they shall be cast into it they shall hear it braying,3 while it boileth, well-nigh bursting with fury. (lxvii. 6–8.) LII. If thou shouldst see those who have offended 5 when they see the punishment!6-for power belongeth altogether unto God, and God is severe in punishing: When those who have been followed will declare themselves clear of those who have followed [them], when they have seen the punishment, and the ties [that bound them together] shall be severed from them: And those who have followed shall say, 'O that there were for us a return to the world! then would we declare ourselves clear of them, like as they have now declared themselves clear of us!' After this manner will God show 1 [Fighting for the faith.] 2 [Orend,' 'result.'] 3 "Arms on armour clashing bray'd Horrible discord." - Par. Lost, vi. 209. the original differ here, but the 5 By taking to themselves idols. O Moḥammad. The copics of into error. them their evil works, for which [they shall pour forth] lamentations; and they shall not come forth from the (ii. 160-162.) fire. LIII. And the Devil1 shall say, when the matter shall have been determined,2 Verily God promised you the promise of truth; and I promised you, but I deceived you: yet had I no power over you; 3 But I only called you and ye answered me. Therefore blame not me, but blame your own selves. I am not a helper of you, neither are ye helpers of me. Verily I renounce your having associated me with God heretofore.' (xiv. 26, 27). LIV. Verily the hypocrites shall be in the lowest abyss of the fire, and thou shalt not find for them any defender. LV. 6 (iv. 144.) They will ask thee respecting the Hour, at what time is its coming fixed. SAY, The knowledge of it is only with my Lord: none shall manifest it in its time but He. It is grievous in the heavens and in the earth. It shall not come upon you otherwise than suddenly. They will ask thee as though thou wert well acquainted therewith. SAY, The knowledge of it is only with God: but the greater number of men know not! SAY, I possess not for myself power to procure advantage nor to avert mischief, save as God pleaseth and if I knew things unseen, I should obtain abundance of good, and evil should not happen unto me. I am only a denouncer of threats unto the unbelievers, and an announcer of good tidings unto the people who believe. (vii. 186-188.) 1 Iblees. 2 And the people of paradise are introduced into paradise, and the people of the fire into the fire, and when the latter have assembled around him. 3 Respecting the resurrection and retribution. 4 The contrary. PREDESTINATION. LVI. A soul cannot die unless by permission of God, according to a writing of God, definite as to time. (iii. 139.) LVII. They say [whose companions were slain at the battle of Ohod], 'If aught of the affair had been submitted to us we had not been slain here.'1 SAY, Had ye been in your houses, those of you who were decreed to be slain had gone forth to the places where they lie. (iii. 148.) LVIII. Wheresoever ye be, death will overtake you, although you be in lofty towers. If good fortune betide them,2 they say, "This is from God!' But if evil betide them, they say, 'This is from thee, O Moḥammad!' SAY, All is from God. And what aileth this people that they are not near to understanding what is said unto them? Whatsoever good betideth thee, O man, it is from God; and whatsoever evil betideth thee, from thyself is it. LIX. (iv. 80, 81.) † No soul can believe but by the permission of God. LX. (x. 100.) +And whoso willeth taketh the way to his Lord: But ye shall not will it, unless God will it. (lxxvi. 29, 30.) LXI. +Expend in the way of God, and throw not yourselves into destruction.3 1 If the choice had been given us we had not gone forth and had not been slain. 2 Namely, the Jews. (ii. 191.) 3 [See Modern Egyptians, 5th ed., p. 284.1 |